Kathryn Joosten

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In her nearly three-hour Archive interview, actress Kathryn Joosten (1939 - 2012) describes her start in acting at age 42. She outlines her first career, as a psychiatric nurse, and how she decided to pursue her love of acting when her marriage ended. She recalls studying and performing at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, and moving to Los Angeles in the mid-1990s. Joosten then recounts her guest roles on several shows, including Family Matters, Murphy Brown, Dharma & Greg, and Scrubs. She details the two roles for which she's best known, those of "Mrs. Landingham" on The West Wing, and "Karen McClusky" on Desperate Housewives. Joosten also speaks of her long-time involvement with the Television Academy, serving as Governor of the Performers Peer Group. She talks of her two Emmy wins (for her role on Desperate Housewives), and openly discusses her battle with lung cancer. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview in Westlake Village on May 9, 2012.

"I'd like to be remembered as a good actress who had a lot of fun, a wonderful sense of humor, and was a great comedian."

Chapter 1

On her childhood and early influences; on her early acting in school plays; on attending nursing school - her first career

06:07

On losing both parents early in life; on growing up in Chicago; on being exposed to the Chicago theater and comedy scene

02:48

On getting divorced; on starting a new new career acting in community theater; on getting her first role in a production of "Gypsy"

08:48

On her first professional acting gig - at Disneyworld; on moving to Hollywood; on getting work as an actor later in life; on her first paid job in television - on Family Matters; on having a side-job in catering; on getting an agent

23:45

On getting roles on several sitcoms: Murphy Brown, Frasier, Thanks, and on the drama Brooklyn South

06:20

On feeling like she had succeeded as an actress; on being up for recurring roles; on her role on The West Wing; on what she learned about the process of doing television

10:08

Chapter 2

On the premise of The West Wing and her role as "Mrs. Landingham" on the show; on her audition process; on "Mrs. Landingham's" name; on The West Wing scene she's extremely proud of - "My Dead Son's Scene"; on "Mrs. Landingham" and her fate on The West Wing; on the popularity of and production on the show; on the "walk and talks"; on her favorite episodes of the show

25:46

On her role on Dharma & Greg and her recurring role on Scrubs

05:08

On her role on General Hospital and getting cast because she had lung cancer in real life; on her own cancer; on how having cancer has affected her career; on how "Karen McCluskey" would die on Desperate Housewives; on her role on Joan of Arcadia

14:06

On her role as "Karen McCluskey" on Desperate Housewives; on her castmates and crew; on production on the show; on her process for learning lines; on working with Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry

12:44

Chapter 3

On the cast of Desperate Housewives; on Nicollette Sheridan leaving the show; on working with Lily Tomlin; on her character getting a boyfriend; on specific episodes of the show

11:22

On her Emmy wins for Desperate Housewives

02:50

On the end of Desperate Housewives; on her last day on set; on her character's death on the show; on the fate of the other characters on the show

05:08

On joining the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and serving as Governor of the Performers Peer Group; on the pros and cons of the Television Academy; on her proudest accomplishment working with the Academy

12:59

On her then-current projects; on writing a book; on her fans; on what she likes about acting; on her approach to acting; on advice to aspiring actors; on advice to those starting acting later in life; on her proudest achievement and biggest regret; on how she'd like to be remembered

Brooklyn South

Desperate Housewives

Kathryn Joosten on everyone on Desperate Housewives knowing she had cancer and how it affected her work and her character's storyline

03:05

Kathryn Joosten on her role as "Karen McCluskey" on Desperate Housewives; on her castmates and crew; on production on the show; on her process for learning lines; on working with Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry

12:44

Kathryn Joosten on the cast of Desperate Housewives; on specific episodes of the show

11:22

Kathryn Joosten on her Emmy wins for Desperate Housewives

02:32

Kathryn Joosten on the end of Desperate Housewives; on her last day on set; on her character's death on the show; on the fate of the other characters on the show

Drama Series

Kathryn Joosten on the cast of Desperate Housewives; on specific episodes of the show; on her Emmy wins for the show; on the end of Desperate Housewives; on her last day on set; on her character's death on the show; on the fate of the other characters on the show